Movable doll support



Dac. 13, 1955 D. sl-:BEL

-MovABLE DOLL SUPPORT 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 5, 1951 AT1-OR NEY Dec. 13, 1955 D. sEBEL 2,726,481

MOVABLE DOLL SUPPORT Filed June 5, 1951 s sheets-sheet 2 INVENT'R Da v/d Sebel EL@ ML.,

ATTORNEY DEE. 13, 1955 D. SEEE.. 2,726,481

MOVABLE DOLL SUPPORT Filed June 5, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR- Dv'lcl 5e be( ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1955 D. sEBEl.

MovABLE: nom. SUPPORT 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 5, 1951 Davn Sebel Ey g. Wm

ATTO RNEY Dec. 13, 1955 D. sEBEL MOVABLE non. SUPPORT 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1951 INVENTOR David Sabe! BMW? ATTORNEY Dec. 13, 1955 D. sEBEL 2,726,481

MOVABLE DOLL SUPPORT Filed June 5, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l NV NTOR Davia. Sebe/ 57M ww A TTENEY United States Patent O MovABLE noLL SUPPORT David Sebel, London, Engiand, assigner to D. Sobel and Company Limited, Erith, England Application .lune 5, 1951, Serial No. 229,908

Claims priority, application Great Britain .lanuary 31, 1951 S Claims. (Cl. i6-107) The present invention relates to toys more particularly toys adapted to removably support a doll or like toy figure and has for an object4 to provide means operable at will by the user of the toy for causing a doll or like toy figure when accommodated in the toy to move relative thereto. f

Toys are known in which a doll or similar toy figure secured to and forming part of the toy is caused to move under control of the user of the toy but it is an object of the present invention to provide means whereby a doll or like toy iigure not forming part of the toy per se, when accommodated in the toy, is caused to move at will by the user of the toy.

Broadly, the invention comprises a movable member adapted to removably support a doll or like toy figure, and manually controlled means operable at will by the user of the toy, for effecting movement of said movable member.

Conveniently the operating means is adapted to be actuated by remote control as for example by hand from the handle of a pushchair or perambulator, or by foot from the base of a chair or cradle and may comprise a link mechanism, a Bowden cable or a cord and pulley arrangement. Electromagnetic or pneumatic means may also be employed for actuating the said operating means.

The invention may be incorporated into the construction of a toy such as for example a pushchair, a perambulator, a cradle or bed, or a dolls chair; or it may comprise a separate unit adapted to be attached to such toys.

The invention will now` be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings showing various embodiments thereof. In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a pushchair according to the invention, the near side wheels being omitted to show details of construction;

Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 'Figure 2 and drawn to an enlarged scale;v

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line Figure 3;

Figure 4a is a partial sectional view similar and showing an alternative construction;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a modified coustruction of they actuating mechanism;

Figure 6 is a rear view, with the back plate removed, of a unit for attachment to a toy;

v Figure 7 is a section taken along the line Vli-Vll of Figure 6;V

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic representation of a further modied construction ofthe actuating mechanism adapted for electrical operation;

Figure 9 is alpartial sectional View similar to Figure 4 and 'showing a still further modication;

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a dolls chair according to Figure 4 vto the invention; and

Figure l1 is a front elevation thereof, one of the front ICC legs being omitted and the corresponding rear leg shownA` partly in section to illustrate details of construction.

Referring to Figures l and 2 of the drawings, a pushchair according to the invention comprises a seat 1 and a foot-rest 2 supported upon a pair of side frames 3 formed of lengths of tubular metal which frames are in turn supported upon wheels 4 rotatably mounted on spindles 5. A handle indicated generally at 6 of substantially Vinverted U shape supports a hollow back 1rest '7 which is secured thereto as by welding for example, the legs of the handle being secured in sleeves 8 secured to the side frames 3. The spindles 5 are screw-threaded to receive nuts 9 whereby the spindles serve to secure the footrest 2 and the sleeves S to the side frames. The sleeves are formed at their upper ends with projections 10 adapted to engage in apertures i1 in the walls of the tubular side frames thus positioning the handle with re spect to the frames.

A support i2 to which a doll may be releasably secured by means of straps 13 is secured to the upper end of a rod 14 the lower end of which is mounted upon the back rest for oscillating movement in a manner to be hereinafter described. The hand grip of the handle comprises a member 15 pivotally secured thereto by a pin 16, means, also to be hereinafter described, being provided whereby rocking of the member 15 about its pivot causes the support 12 to oscillate from side to side. y v

Thus a doll when seated upon the seat i. and secured to the support 12 by means of the straps 13 is caused to rock from side to side by the user of the toy by rocking the member 15 which rocking Vmotion maybe iznparted while wheeling the toy with the hands grasping the handle in the usual manner.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 3 and 4, the hollow back rest comprises a cover 18 detachably secured to a base 19 secured along its side edges as by welding for example to `tubular members 20 forming the legs of the handle 6. Pivotally mounted at its upper end upon the base 19 by means of a stud 21 is a member 22 the lower end 17 of which projects through a slot 23 in the cover and is formed with a U-shaped recess 24.- The recess 24 is adapted to receive a corresponding U-shaped dished member 25 to which the lower end of the rod '14 is secured as by welding for example, the member 25 `being securely positioned within the recess 2dby means of a screw 26 and square nut 27.

Thus rocking of the member 22 about the stud 21 virnparts a rocking motion to the rod 14'and is Aeffected "by means of a transverse rod or bar 28 having a pin 29 sccured thereto which pin 'is adapted to engage in aslot v30 in the member 22,. The bar 28 is pivotally connected at each end to one arm of a crank lever 31 pivoted as at 32 upon the base 19. The other arm of the`bell crank lever extends through an aperture 33 in the cover 18 and is adapted to receive one end of a rod 34 extending upwardly through the tubular member 20, the rod 34 being forme-d with 'a bent portion 35 extending through 'an aperture 36 in the bell crank lever.

The upper end 37 of the rod 34 ahuts the base of the member 15 adjacent the end thereof, said member being of hollow box-like form adapted to cover andenclose *the upper ends of the tubular members 2i) and being pivotaliy mounted by means of the pin 16 upon a channel sectioned stretcher 3S extending between the tubular members y20 and secured thereto as by welding for example.

It will be apparent that rocking motion of the Vniemvber 15 about its pivot will be transmitted by the rods 34 to the bell crank levers 31 which in turn cause the bar 28 to move from side to side thereby rocking the member 22 by reason of the pin and slot ,connection 29 and 30 and e'ect rocking of the doll supporting arm 14. y

In an alternative construction shown in Figure 4a, the

rods 34 are replaced by flexible wires or cords 39 and the bell crank levers 31 by grooved pulleys 40 and 41. The pulley 40 is rotatably mounted upon a spindle 42 extending diametrically across the sleeve 8, the diameter of the pulley being such as to permit the cord 39 to pass freely through the member 20. The cord is secured at its upper end to the handle member (not shown) and after passing over pulley 40, passes through an aperture 43 in the back rest cover 18, over the pulley 41 rotatably mounted on the base 19 and is secured to the end of the transverse bar 28. The wires or cords 39 are tightly tensioned and may if desired include a tensioning device such as for example a helical spring. It will be apparent that rocking of the member 15 alternatively effects a pull on one of the cords 39 while slackening ofi the other thereby moving the transverse bar 28 from side to side.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a back rest embodying a modified construction of the actuating mechanism.

In the construction shown in Figure 5 the doll support 12 is secured to an arm 44 pivotally secured at its lower end to the base 19 by means of a stud 45. A crank member 46 journalled at its lower end in a boss 47 formed in the base 19 has secured to its upper end a bar 48 extending through an arcuate slot 49 in the cover 18 and rotatably mounted as at 50 in the upper end of the arm 44. A transverse bar 51 is journalled intermediate its length upon the crank member 46 and is pivotally connected at its ends to the bell crank levers 31. The levers 31 are actuated, as in the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 by rods 34 passing through the tubular members 20. It will be apparent that to and fro movement of the bar 51 transversely of the base by actuation of the bell crank levers 31 causes the crank member to be angularly displaced from side to side which movement is transmitted to the arm 44 and support 12 by the bar 48.

Referring now to Figures 6 and 7. a unit adapted to be attached to a toy comprises a base 52, a cover 53 secured thereto and a doll supporting arm 54 pivoted at its lower end to a downwardly extending portion of the base 52 by means of a stud 55.

A shaft 56 is journalled at one end in a boss 57 formed in the cover 53 and carries at its other end an arm 58 to the end of which is secured a spindle 59 extending through an arcuate slot 60 in the cover to engage in a slot 61 in the doll supporting arm 54. The shaft 56 also has mounted thereon a pinion 62 engaging with a rack 63 on a transversely extending member 64 slidably supported in brackets 65 secured to the cover.

Thus alternate movement of the member 64 in either direction effects oscillation of the shaft 56 which in turn effects rocking of the arm 54 through the engagement of the spindle 59 in the slot 61. Movement of the member 64 in one direction is effected by means of a Bowden cable 66 secured to the cover as at 67, the wire 68 of the Bowden cable being secured to one end of the member 64. The member 64 is spring loaded in the other directlon by means of a spring 69 secured to one end thereof and to the cover 53. The Bowden cable is provided at its free end with suitable operating means (not shown) such as the known type of hand grip which can be attached to the handle of a push chair or perambulator for example; or a foot operated pedal which may be placed adjacent the feet of a dolls chair or cradle.

Thus repeated operation of the Bowden cable actuating means elects movement of the member 64 first in one direction and then in the other thereby imparting an oscillating motion to the shaft 56 to effect rocking of the doll supporting arm 54.

In order to hold the member 64 in its mid position when the device is not in operation and thereby maintain the arm 54 in a substantially vertical position, a spring loaded pin 70 pivoted to the cover 53 is adapted to engage in a. recess 71 in the lower edge of the member 64. The profile of the pin and the shape of the recess are such nections between the solenoids 79,

that when the member 64 is at rest the pin holds it in its mid position against the pull of the spring 69 but when the member is actuated by means of the Bowden cable the pin is thrown out of engagement with the recess. Spring clips are secured to the base 52 and serve to detachably secure the unit to the back of a toy such as for example a push chair, perambulator, dolls chair or cradle. Other suitable attachment means such as for example suction pads may be employed or the unit may be secured by screws or nuts and bolts when it is intended as a permanent attachment to an existing toy.

In the further modied construction shown in Figure 8 rocking of the doll supporting arm is effected by electromagnetic means. In this construction the pivoted member 22 of Figures 3 and 4 is rocked from side to side by means of a transverse member 73 slidably supported in brackets 74. Each end of the member 73 is formed with a stop 75 adapted to be engaged by one arm of a bell crank lever 76. The other arm of the bell crank lever is slotted as at 77 to receive one end of a plunger 78 of magnetic material and slidably supported at its other end within a solenoid 79. By energising alternately rst one solenoid and then the other, the bell crank levers 76 are alternately operated by the plungers 78 thereby moving the member 73 alternately in one direction and the other to effect rocking of the member 22. Springs 80 are adapted to engage the member 22 to maintain it in a substantially vertical position when neither of the solenoids 79 is energised.

The electric power for energising the solenoids is supplied by a battery shown diagrammatically at 81 which battery may be conveniently accommodated beneath the seat of the push chair. A two way electric switch 82 is connected to the solenoids which switch may be mounted on any convenient part of the toy or which may be connected thereto by an electric cable thereby permitting remote operation of the toy. The electrical conbattery 81 and switch 82 are shown diagrammatically at 83 from which it will be seen that operation of the switch alternately one way and the other effects alternate energisation of the solenoids 79 thus causing rocking of the member 22.

Figure 9 shows a still further modied construction of the mechanism of Figures 3 and 4. In this construction the pivoted member 22 is actuated by pneumatic means. To this end a transverse member 84 which engages the member 22 by a pin and slot connection 85 has connected thereto at its ends the piston rods 86 of a pair of opposed air operated pistons sliding in cylinders 88 secured to the base 19.

The cylinders are connected by flexible tubing 89 passing through apertures 90 in the back rest cover 18 and slots 91 in the tubular members 20 and extending upwardly therethrough to connect with spring loaded bellows 92. The bellows 92 are interposed between a pivoted handle member and the upper ends of the members 20, the handle member -being of open box form to cover and enclose the bellows 92 and the ends of the tubular members 20 and being pivoted on a pair of upstanding lugs 94 formed upon a tlat bracing member 95 uniting the upper ends of the members 20.

It will be apparent that rocking of the member 93 about its pivot will cause the bellows 92 to be alternately compressed and expanded thereby alternately moving the pistons first in one direction and then in the other. The pistons impart a corresponding movement to the transverse member 84 which thereby rocks the member 22 by reason of thepin and slot connection 85.

Operation of the pistons may be effected by means other than the bellows 92 and handle member 93. For example the tubes 89 may be connected to deflatable rubber globes adapted to be secured to any convenient part of the toy or connected thereto by a length of tubing so that operation of the toy may be effected at a distance therefrom. Also, in the case of a push chair or perambulator, the hand grip of thev handle may be a tubular member having a portion adjacent each end thereof of rubber tubing which portions constitute air chambers to which the air tubes 89 are connected. Thus by alternately gripping the rubber portions of the hand grip the pistons are caused to operate and effect actuation of the mechanism. y

Figures and 11 show a further embodiment of the invention in which a dolls chair is provided with means for rocking a doll seated in the chair.

As will be seen from the figures, the chair comprises a pair of side frames indicated generally at 96 of metal tube bent to the desired shape to provide leg portions 97 and horizontal seat supporting portions 98. The leg portions of each side frame are connected by stretcher members 99 and the frames are connected together by a front stretcher 100 and va rear stretcher 101. A seat 102 is supported from the frame portions 93 by brackets 103 which embrace the said portions and are secured thereto as by rivets 104 for example.

A hollow back rest 10S is supported upon a base 66 extending downwardly therefrom and secured along its side edges to the rear leg portions 97 of the side frames. A rocking arm 197 and doll support 108 are provided as inthe construction shown in Figures l and 2. The mechanism for rocking the arm 167 is similar to that shown in Figures 3 and 4 with the exception that the upwardly extending rods 34 of the previously described construction are replaced by downwardly extending rods E99. As will be seen from Figure 11, one arm of a bell crank lever Mil pivoted on the base H36 extends through an aperture 11i in the rear leg member. The rod 109 is pivoted to the lever 110 and extends downwardly through the leg to connect with a projection 112 of a rocking member 113 pivoted upon the rear stretcher 101 which projection extends through a further aperture 114 in the rear leg 97.

The member 113 is spring loaded t-o occupy a substantially horizontal position and it will be apparent that foot operation of the said member by the user of the toy will cause the doll support 108 to be rocked in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

It will be appreciated that instead of the construction described with reference to Figures lO and 1l, any of the constructions described with reference to Figures 4a, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9 may be incorporated into the dolls chair, and, in the case of the constructions shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, remote controlled operating means may be provided for operating the toy at a distance therefrom.

it will likewise be understood that the invention is not limited to the above described embodiments thereof. Thus for example the movable doll supporting arm may be dispensed with by providing a pivoted seat connected to the operating mechanism whereby the seat is caused to move from side to side so that a doll placed upon the seat will move likewise.

Similarly the invention is not limited to the toys shown in the drawings but is applicable to other toys such as for example a dolls bed or cradle or in fact any toy adapted to accommodate a doll or like toy figure.

What I claim is:

l. In a toy adapted removably to support a doll or like toy figure, a framework, a member pivoted intermediate its length to said framework and adapted to oscillate about its pivot, a doll supporting arm secured to one end of said member, an element supported on said framework for movement thereof transversely of the radial extent of said pivoted member in a plane parallel to the plane of oscillation of said pivoted member, said element being operatively connected to said member at the side of the pivot thereof opposite to that at which the supporting arm is secured, whereby said transverse movement of said element alternately in one direction and the other effects oscillation of said pivoted member to rock said 6 doll supporting arm, and the means operable at willlconnected to said element for effecting said transverse movement of saidelement. v

2. In a toy adapted removably to support a doll or like toy ligure, a framework, a doll supporting arm pivotally mounted on said framework and adapted to oscillate about its pivot, releasable attachment means carried on said arm for removably securing the doll or like toy ligure thereto, an element supported upon said framework for movement thereof transversely of the radial/ extent of said arm and in a plane parallel to the plane of oscillation of said arm, means operatively connecting said element to said arm to eect oscillation of said arm upon said transverse movement of said element alternately in one direction and the other, a member operable will pivoted intermediate its length upon said framework and adapted to rock about its pivot, and a rod 'and link mechanism connecting said member at each side of the pivot thereof to said element to effect upon rocking movement of said member about its pivot said transverse movement of said element to oscillate said supporting arm.

3. in a toy adapted removably to support a doll or like toy figure, a framework, a doll supporting arm pivotally mounted on said framework and adapted to oscillate about its pivot, releasable attachment means carried on. said arm for removably securing the doll or like toy ligure thereto, an element supported upon said framework for movement thereof transversely of the radial extent of said arm and in a plane parallei to the plane of oscillation of said arm, means operatively connecting said element t0 said arm to effect oscillation of said arm upon said transverse movement of said element alternately in one direction and the other, a member operable at will pivoted intermediate its length upon said framework and adapted to rock about its pivot, and a cord and pulley mechanism connecting said member at each side of the pivot thereof to said element to effect upon rocking of said member about its pivot said transverse movement of said element to oscillate said supporting arm.

4. In a toy adapted removably to support a doll or like toy figure, a framework, a doll supporting arm pivoted at one end thereof to said framework for pivotal to and fro movement thereof, releasable attachment means carried by the other end of said arm for removably securing the doll or like toy gure thereto, a crank member journalled at one end in said framework pivotally to move on an axis and operatively engaging at its other end outwardly of said axis with said supporting arm to move to and fro therewith concomitantly with said pivotal movement of said arm, an element journalled upon a crank pin portion of said crank member for movement of translation of said element transversely of the crank arm of said crank member to effect upon such movement of said element rocking of said crank member to rock said doll supporting arm about its pivot, and means operable at will operatively connected to said element for imparting said movement of translation thereto upon operation of said means operable at will.

5. In a toy adapted removably to support a doll or like toy figure, a detachable unit comprising a base, a doll supporting arm pivoted at one end thereof on said base, releasable attachment means on the other end of said arm for removably securing the doll or like toy ligure thereto, a mechanism operatively connected to said arm and adapted to effect rocking movement of said arm upon its pivot upon actuation of said mechanism, and means operable at will operatively connected to said mechanism to actuate said mechanism to effect rocking movement of said arm and of the doll or like toy ligure removably secured thereto upon operation of said means operable at will.

6. A dolls chair comprising a seat and a back rest mounted on a framework adapted to rest upon a floor or like surface, a movable doll supporting arm for transverse oscillatory movement relative to said seat and mechanism connected thereto for effecting movement thereof mounted upon said back rest, a device operable at will carried on and positioned adjacent the oor engaging portion of the framework, and means operatively connecting said device to said mechanism for effecting movement of said doll supporting arm upon operation of said device.

7. A toy push chair comprising a seat and a back rest and a handle mounted on a framework supported upon wheels, a movable doll supporting arm extending above said seat and mechanism connected thereto and mounted on said back rest for effecting transverse oscillatory movement of said arm relative to said seat, a manually operable device mounted on said handle and means operatively connecting said device to said mechanism for effecting movement of said doll supporting arm upon operation of said device.

8. In a toy adapted removably to support a doll or like toy figure, a framework, a fixed member secured to said framework for freely supporting said doll, an arm pivotally supported on said framework for transverse oscillatory movement relative to said xed member, rc-

leasable attachment means spaced from said fixed member and carried on said arm for removably securing the doll or like toy figure thereto, an actuating mechanism carried upon said framework and operatively connected to said arm for rocking said arm about its pivot upon actuation of said mechanism, and means operable at will operatively connected to said mechanism for effecting actuation of said mechanism and pivotal movement of. said arm upon operation of said means operable at will.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 697,248 Hawley Apr. 8, 1902 1,047,396 Erdman Dec. 17, 1912 1,241,937 Denman Oct. 2, 1917 1,346,620 Wecht July 13, 1920 1,451,390 Hendrix Apr. 10, 1923 1,463,032 Bantle July 24, 1923 2,058,241 Langos Oct. 20, 1936 2,430,629 Bigus, Jr. Nov. 11, 1947 

